Spencer was the creative director for Buena Vista Street, which replaces the entranceway to the theme park that was once called the Sunshine Plaza.

"It really is a continuation of the story of Disneyland's Main Street, which is a representation of Walt's childhood home of Marceline, Missouri," he said.

The street represents an idealized depiction of what Walt Disney would have found in Hollywood when he arrived via train in 1923. One of the things visible would have been the Pacific Electric Red Cars.

"I wanted to bring movement and the ability for people to move throughout the park," Spencer said.

According to Spencer, the Red Cars were the way people got around Southern California before freeways. They even ran down Hollywood Boulevard and were visible at gala premieres held at the movie palaces, so including them on Buena Vista Street was an easy progression from idea to reality.

"My father took me as a small child on the last Red Car line, which closed down in 1961," he said.

He was eight at the time and remembers the cars as large and noisy, and not as smooth as riding in the family car.

"It was toward the end of the Red Cars and nothing was being maintained very well," he said.

As Spencer grew up, he kept his passion for trains, even going with a buddy on a three-week train trip adventure all around the country after graduating from high school.

"We met a lot of interesting people and rode a lot of interesting trains," he said.

Spencer loves visiting train museums and still enjoys riding the rails. One of his favorites to ride is the coal-fired, narrow-gauge, steam-powered Durango & Silverton Railroad in Colorado.

"It's a 40-mile trip. You buy a seat on the 18-seat parlor car and sit and ride and enjoy the Rocky Mountains, the scenery is spectacular."

An artist rendering by Imagineer Ray Spencer of what the Pacific Electric Red Car Trolleys would look like on Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure. COURTESY, THE DISNEYLAND RESORT
One of the stops for the Pacific Electric Red Cars is on Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure. The sign above the conductor's position reflects the ultimate destination of the car's route. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Lisa Girolami, left, senior show producer and Ray Spencer, creative director Buena Vista Street, explain explain how the Pacific Electric Red Car Trolleys were the primary mode of transportation in Hollywood when Walt Disney arrived, and why they wanted them on Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure Park. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
These two men oversaw the creation and making of the replicas of the Pacific Electric Red Car Trolleys for Disney California Adventure. They even replicated the rivets used in the paneling on the cars. Standing inside is Ray Warren, the Show/Ride Technical Director from Walt Disney Imagineering for the project. Outside is Ray Spencer, the Creative Director for Walt Disney Imagineering of Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure. MARK EADES, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Giving a tug on the bell is Ray Spencer, the Creative Director for Walt Disney Imagineering for Buena Vista Street and the Pacific Electric Red Car Trolleys at Disney California Adventure. Spencer is a train fan and insisted the bell and horn for the cars be authentic, and are actual recordings of the horn and bell from a real Red Car. MARK EADES, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The replica of the Carthay Circle Theater sits at the end of Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure. The original theater, now torn down, was where Walt Disney debuted "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" in 1937. Ray Spencer was the creative director for the building, which at the theme park will house a fine dining restaurant and two lounges. MARK EADES, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Ray Spencer, Creative Director for Walt Disney Imagineering for Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure stands in front of a fountain meant to reflect the time period of the late twenties and thirties in Hollywood. MARK EADES, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The wig-wag signal is the same as the ones used on many of the original Pacific Electric Red Car routes in the Southern California area. Ray Spencer, the Creative Director for Walt Disney Imagineering, stands in front of one located on Carthay Circle at Disney California Adventure. MARK EADES, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Ray Spencer, the creative director for Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure Park, is a passionate railroad fan and even owns several model live steam engines that he runs at the Los Angeles Live Steamers Club in Griffith Park, a club Walt Disney helped found. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Ray Spencer, Walt Disney Imagineering's Creative Director, and Lisa Girolami, Walt Wisney Imagineering's Senior Show Producer for the Buena Vista Street addition to Disney California Adventure, stand by the statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse that will be in Carthay Circle, the new "hub" of the theme park. Unlike the statue of Walt at Disneyland, this one is at ground level. MARK EADES, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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